Signal device.



1. F. MACDONALD.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APH-30| 19|?.

Patented Apr. 80, 1918.

J' ESSE F. MACDONALD, 0F BILLING-S, MONTANA.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

Specification of Iletters Patent.

ratentea am. so, 1ere.

Application filed April 30, 1917. Serial 1\T o. 165,629.

To all whom t may concern.

Be it known that l, Jnssn F. 'MAoDoiw ALD, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Billings, in the county of Yellowstone and State of Montana, have invented a certain new and useful Signal Device, of which the following is a specification.

|llhe object of my invention is to pro vide a signal device of simple', durable and inexpensive construction, peculiarly adapted for use on motor vehicles and the like.

More particularly it is the object of my invention to provide a signal having an a1'- row comprised of two members mounted for rotation, the members being so arranged that in one position a complete arrow is formed pointing in one direction, and in another position of the rotation of said members, a completeV arrow is formed pointing in the opposite direction.

Still a further object is to provide such a device with means for operating the arrow members electrically.

With these and other objects in View my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which:

Figure 1 shows a top or plan view of a signal device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of the same, with the arrow members in one position of their movement.

Fig. 3 shows a front elevation of the same with the arrows in another position of their movement.

Fig. 4 shows a side elevation of the device, and

Fig. 5 shows a diagram of the wiring system.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have used the reference numeral to indicate generally a case from which there extends laterally a supporting frame 11.

Mounted on the case 10 is a suitable clamp device 12, whereby my improved signal may be quickly and easily detachably mounted on the frame of a motor vehicle.

I preferably mount my improved signal device on the windshield frame. Y Within the case 10 are two solenoid coils 13 and 14, preferably spaced vertically from each other,

The cores are connected by a common pin pivot 16 with a lever-17. One end of the lever is pivotally mounted in a bracket 18. The other end ofthe lever projects laterally beyond the solenoids, as shown in Fig.

2, and is connected with the opposite coil springs 19. The upper end of one spring 19, and the lower end of the other is connected with a nut 20 screwed on to a post 21 supported on the frame of the case 10. The springs 19 tend to hold the outer end of the lever 17 properly centered with relation to the solenoids, and also impose yielding tension on said outer end of the lever.

-v Mounted in the frame of the casing 10, and in the outer endof the frame 11 are two vertically, spaced shafts 22 and 23, which are adapted to rotate. The inner ends of the shafts 23 and 22 extend inwardly carrying sprocket gears or wheels or the like 24 arranged in vertical alinement with each other.

A continuous chain 25 is extended over said wheels 24. Une stretch of the chain 25 is secured to the outer end of the lever 17.

Fixed on each shaft 23 and 22 is an arrow member 26. Each arrow member 26 forms half of an arrow which may be made of metal or any suitable material, and is preferably bright colored.

The arrow members are so arranged that when in one position of the rotation of the shafts, said arrow members form an arrow pointing toward the right, as shown in Fig. 3. When the shafts 22 and 23 are rotated through half a circle, the arrow members are turned directly over and then fitted together in such a way as to form a-n arrow pointing in the opposite direction or toward the left.

When my device is completely assembled and installed, it will be understood that the solenoids are connected with a source of electrical energy 30, by wires 31 and 32 and with proper switch devices 33 and 34 by wires 35 and 36.

The springs 19 normally hold the arrow members 26 in horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 4. When the upper solenoid is thrown out of circuit, the springs will'return the arrow members to their positions shown in Figs. 2 and 4. When the lower solenoid is energized, the shafts are rotated for bringing the arrow members to their position shown in Fig. 3 where they form .complete arrow pointing to the right,

I preferably mount within the case 10 Vlamps 27 for throwing light on both sides of the arrow and also forwardly and rearwardly.

rEhe advantages of a device of this kind may be largely seen from the foregoing description. It will be obvious that the general purpose of the device is to provide a signal which may be readily operated, and can'be seen by persons behind or in front of the automobile equipped with the device.

The arrow will indicate the direction in which the machine is about to turn, and the driver will thereby be able to warn pedestrians or other drivers and avoid accidents.

My device is of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction and is simple in its operation.

Owing to the reversibility of the arrow members, the number of parts necessary for making a complete signal device is reduced to a small number.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my improvedsignal device without departing from the essential features and purposes of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by the patent to be issued upon my application any such modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within the scope of my claims. y

l claim as my invention:

l. A signal device comprising` a pair of indicating members rotatably mounted adj acent to each other, said members being adapted in one position of their movement to form a complete indicating device pointing in one direction, and when in another position of their movement to form a complete indicating device pointing in another direction.

2. A signal device including` indicating device members, rotatably mounted, means for simultaneously imparting rotation to said indicating device members, said members being so constructed that in one position of their movement, they form a complete indicating device pointing in one direction, and in another position of their movement they form a complete indicating device pointing in another direction.

3. A signal device including indicating vdevice members, rotatably mounted, means for simultaneously imparting rotation to saidl indicating device members, said members being so constructed that in one positionof their movement they form a complete indicating device pointing in one direction, and in another position of their movement they form a complete indicating device pointing in another direction, said indicating device members being substantially flat, so that in a third position of their movement they stand horizontal.

t. A signal device including indicating device members, rotatably mounted, means for simultaneously imparting rotation to said indicating device members, said members being so constructed that in one position of their movement they form a complete indicating device pointing in one direction, and in another position of their movement they form a complete indicating device pointing in another direction, said indicating device members being substantially flat, so that in a third position of their movement they stand horizontal, and means for normally holding said indicating device members in their last described position.

5. A signal device including indicating device members, rotatably mounted, means for simultaneously imparting rotation to said indicating device members, said members being so constructed that in one position of their movement they form a complete indicating device pointing in one direction, and in another position of their movement they form a complete indicating devicepointing in another direction, said indicating device members being substantially fiat, so that in a third position ofl their movement they stand horizontal, means for normally holding said indicating device members in their last described position under pressure.

6. A signal device including` a frame, spaced shafts mounted for rotation within said frame, indicating device members fixed to the respective shafts, said indicating device members being adapted in one position of the rotation of said shafts to form a complete device pointing in one direction, and in another position of the rotation of said shafts to form a complete device pointing in another direction.

7 A signal device including a frame, spaced shafts mounted for rotation within said frame, indicating` device members fixed to the respective shafts, said indicating device members being adapted in one position of the rotation of said shafts to form a complete device pointing in one direction, and in another position of the rotation of said shafts to form a complete device pointing in another direction, and means for simultaneously imparting a rotation to said shafts.

S. A signal device including a frame, spaced shafts mounted for rotation within said frame, indicating device members fixed to the respective shafts, said indicating device members being adapted in one position of the rotation of said shafts to form a complete device pointing in one direction, and in another position of the rotation of said shafts to form a complete device pointing in another direction, said members being adapted in a third position to be substantially horizontal, and yielding means for normally holding said last described means in position for maintaining said indicating device members in said third position.

9. ln a device of the class described, a supporting frame, a pair of shafts rotatably mounted therein, spaced vertically from each other, substantially flat indicating de vice members fixed on each shaft, said members being designed in one position of the 10 rotation of said shafts to form a complete indicating device pointing in one direction, and in another position of said members to form a complete indicating device pointing in another position, and being adapted in a third position of said members to be substantially horizontal, Wheels on said shafts, an endless flexible member on said Wheels, a lever pivotally mounted at one end, and having its other end connected with said leXible member, yielding means for normally holding said lever in position Where said indicating device members are horizontal, and means for moving said lever in dierent directions for moving said indicating device members to different positions.

Des Moines, Iowa, April 12, 1917.

JESSE F. MACDONALD.

Uni-lee et this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenta,

Washington, D. 0. 

